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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 3.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Nabokov open his autobiography?
(a) With an examination of his early childhood.
(b) With a short story about the birth of his son.
(c) With a short review of Russian history.
(d) With a short meditation on the periods of inexistence before birth and after death.

2. What does Nabokov claim stems more from an ecological longing for the place of his birth, than in his family's loss of property and station?
(a) His anger toward the Germans.
(b) His anger toward the French.
(c) His anger toward the British.
(d) His anger toward the Bolsheviks.

3. What is the process by which Vladimir Nabokov writes "Speak, Memory?"
(a) The autobiographical novel is culled from essays written by the author's son.
(b) The autobiographical novel is culled from essays on his life.
(c) The autobiographical novel is culled from Russian history books.
(d) The autobiographical novel is culled from stories told to him by family members.

4. What game does the whole family often play on the estate?
(a) Rounders.
(b) Badmitton.
(c) Lawn bowling.
(d) Lawn tennis.

5. Who are some of the ancestors on Nabokov's paternal, Russian side?
(a) A lawyer, scientist, and Dmitri Nabokov, a well-known actor.
(b) A prominent Caholic cardinal, a physician, and Dmitri Nabokov, an inventor.
(c) An explorer, the sister of a prominent Decembrist, and Dmitri Nabokov, the author's grandfather, who served as Minister of Justice for eight years.
(d) A government leader, an opera singer, and Dmitri Nabokov, the surgeon.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is their mother's reaction when she sees that her children have opened the presents from their stockings early and poorly rewrapped them?

2. Why is the family forced to leave Russia?

3. What does Nabokov reveal about his mind?

4. The rest of the chapters are published separately, mainly by whom?

5. What does Nabokov investigate about his family?

(see the answer key)

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